REVIEW: Wayne Lemmons - The Story's Writer

Genre: Horror

Publisher: Self-Published

Publication Date: 1^st April 2016

Pages: 172

REVIEWED BY NEV

A copy of The Story’s Writer was sent to Confessions of a Reviewer by the author, Wayne Lemmons, in exchange for an honest review. This is said review. This book is self-published.

You know how I like a funny story of how I got a book to review? Well, Mr Lemmons doesn’t know this, but there is a funny story for this one. Someone recommended his writing to me and said I should check it out. Well, they didn’t, exactly. They recommended someone else. I got the name wrong. I didn’t find this out until a few months after we had made contact and the books were in the pile for review.

So, obligated as I was, I couldn’t do anything about it and had to go with my promises. Did it turn out to be a fortuitous mistake on my behalf?

This is what I thought.

Amy is a single mom. She works very hard to keep a stable household and a steady life for her son, Bailey. The only thing she keeps for herself is a lifestyle of one night stands that, while leaving Bailey to fend for himself, keeps her sane. Not ideal for anyone, but they survive.

On one of these one night stands, she meets Grant. A horror writer that seems to be very grounded, and very interested in meeting Bailey, when he can. Could this be Mr Right at last?

When things blossom and Amy and Bailey move in with Grant, all seems to be going swimmingly. Until Grant starts to write his new book about ghosts. It really seems to Bailey like Grant has brought some of his research home with him.

REVIEW: Rich Hawkins - King Carrion - Review #2

Genre: Horror

Publisher: Sinister Horror Company

Publication Date: 17^th Sept 2016

Pages: 132

REVIEWED BY ALEX

A copy of King Carrion was sent to Confessions of a Reviewer by the publishers, Sinister Horror Company in exchange for an honest review. This is said review.

Getting back into the spirit of posting multiple reviews for the same books, Confessions gives you the second review of King Carrion by Rich Hawkins.

Tonight’s review is brought to you by Alex Kimmell:

If you’re a fan of horror fiction, chances are pretty good that you’ve read at least a couple of books about vampires and zombies. You’ve seen the movies, television shows and maybe even flipped through the overabundance of comic books out there. You are familiar with the end of the world tropes where all of us humans are scraped from the face of the Earth like so many crumbs from a plate of chocolate chip cookies. As the saying goes, there is nothing new under the sun, or even the moon.

However, there are a certain, special few who divert from these well-worn, shadowed paths just enough to impress new footprints in the muddy diversion of a fresh trail.

SURPRISE!! Tijuana Donkey Showdown - Cover Reveal!

Well it looks like the cat is out of the bag. I have no idea how that could possibly have happened!

I didn’t give anything away! I suspect there is a spy in the ranks somewhere intercepting my private messages. There is no other way people could have known!

I really do despair.

Anyway, now the secret is out, Mr. Adam Howe would like to tell you all about his new book, Tijuana Donkey Showdown and let you see, FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, the wonderful cover. I have absolutely no idea what it is about because I have never, ever in my life heard that phrase before, honest gov!

If you have never read Adam Howe before then I can only suggest you check out my review of Die Dog or Eat the Hatchet, here, or my interview with him here, to see what he is all about.

Once you do that, then pay very close attention to the pre-order news further down the page and get yourself prepared to hit the important pages to do just that and pre-order this little gem, which promises to be another big hit.

Go Mr. Adam Howe……….

GUEST POST: Confessions of my Past, Present and Future #49 - Dan Weatherer

Confessions of my Past, Present and Future

by

Dan Weatherer

The Past

There are probably rules for this sort of thing, but rules (like promises) are made to be broken. As a young, awkward sort, struggling to find his place in the high school hierarchy, books were a welcome retreat from a world I did not much understand, never mind wish to be a part of. (Likely I was a troubled youth!)

There were several books that not only afforded me my escape, a few of which have stuck long in the memory, and provoke a smile and a familiar tingle when recalled. I will not pretend that any of these books are literary heavyweights, but then I never did harbour notions of snobbery. A good story is just that, and these kept my imagination alive and kicking during those tediously grey teenage years.

REVIEW: Patrick Lacey - Dream Woods

Genre: Horror

Publisher: Sinister Grin Press

Publication Date: 1^st October 2016

Pages: 135

REVIEWED BY NEV:

A copy of Dream Woods by Patrick Lacey, was sent to Confessions of a Reviewer by the publisher, Sinister Grin Press, via Hook of a Book Media and Publicity in exchange for an honest review. This is said review.

Sinister Grin is a press I respect a lot. They put out some wonderful books and seem to be on the pulse when it comes to how they operate, and how they look after their authors. That needs to be commended when talking about a smaller, up and coming press. Especially in today’s climate, when so many small, and also bigger presses, seem to be falling by the wayside.

They also seem to be getting their hands on some wonderful authors at the minute. One of those is Patrick Lacey. This is a young man who I have previously tipped for big things in the horror world so I was delighted to get an opportunity to read and review his latest novella, Dream Woods.

This is what I thought.

Vince is an ex punk. Covered in tattoos that he needs to keep hidden for his new life as an accountant, he lives for his family. He is also trying to keep his family together. His wife, Audra, doesn’t seem happy and he suspects she wants to leave. He would be right. He sees an opportunity to try and make things better when he sees a billboard advertising the reopening of his favourite ever place from his childhood, Dream Woods Amusement park. This could be perfect for himself, Audra, and their two boys, Tim and Andrew.

Author Regina Michaels, is working on her latest book. It is about Dream Woods. She wants to expose the truth about it’s dark past. She should know all about it. She used to work there.

When circumstances throw them all together, they must join forces to try and survive the evil that lurks within the gates of Dream Woods.

Confessions has a surprise for you next week!!!!

You know when someone tells you something and asks you to keep it a secret

Someone did that with me last week. Problem is, I am really no good at keeping secrets. I like to give hints, and try to get people to guess what the secret is without directly telling them the secret because then I would feel incredibly guilty about them knowing the secret and then it isn’t a secret anymore and the person who told me the secret wouldn’t tell me anymore.

It’s a difficult position to be in isn’t it?

Anyway……should I tell you the secret now, or just give you a hint?

I think if I just told you, then it wouldn’t be very fair. As well as that I wouldn’t have a surprise for you next week because you would already know.

If I just give you a hint will you promise not to tell anyone?

SHOW-OFF AND TELL #40 - Daniel Marc Chant - Into Fear

#40 in the Show-Off and Tell series is one that has just come out this week. It is Into Fear by Daniel Marc Chant.

You can read the review at the bottom of the page. It is worth reading giving the quality of the book and it’s high score for a collection.

I have to advise that the one featured in this Show-Off and Tell is not the one you will get when you buy the book. I am extremely lucky to have in my possession a very early proof copy with a different cover on it. One that didn’t see the light of day.

Not only am I delighted to own a copy of the book but, to have this version gives me an extra opportunity to stick two fingers up at one and all! That’s what showing off is all about! Isn’t it?

This is my copy:

REVIEW: L.X. Cain - Bloodwalker

Genre: Horror

Publisher: Freedom Fox Press

Publication Date: 4^th October 2016

Pages: 284

REVIEWED BY NEV

A copy of Bloodwalker was sent to Confessions of a Reviewer by the author, L.X Cain, in exchange for an honest review. This is said review. This book is published by Freedom Fox Press.

Another fresh name to me that I had the pleasure of receiving an email request to read and review Bloodwalker from. L.X. Cain is a name I have seen around. A lot. I always meant to pick something up but this old reviewing lark doesn’t leave a lot of personal time for reading stuff I just want to pick up.

On the other hand, when you want to pick something up by someone and they ask if you can review something, well, you’re obligated aren’t you?

Bloodwalker had a very interesting synopsis. It intrigued me. This is what I thought.

The Zorka Circus is travelling through Europe. It doesn’t stay long in any one place but when it leaves, it always takes something extra with it.

Young children are going missing and the Circus’ security chief, Rurik, thinks it is one of the performers that is responsible. He needs to find out who it is and put an end to it. For his own sanity and the security of the circus.

Sylvie is getting married at the circus. She is known as a bloodwalker, from the Skomori clan, a clan despised by nearly everyone. Untrusted and seen as ghoulish, they get a hard time wherever they go.

When Sylvie discovers some bones in a trailer, this puts her directly in the path of the killer. It looks like Rurik is the only one that can help. What they are about to have to confront, is something neither of them could have ever imagined.

REVIEW: Jason Parent - Wrathbone and other stories

Genre: Horror collection

Publisher: Comet Press

Publication Date: 3^rd October 2016

Pages: 160

REVIEWED BY NEV

A copy of Wrathbone and other Stories was sent to Confessions of a Reviewer by the author Jason Parent in exchange for an honest review. This is said review. This book is published by Comet Press.

Nothing I like more than getting a request from Jason Parent to have an early look at one of his books. Be it a novel or a short story or as in this case, a collection, it doesn’t matter to me. He is one of those authors that I just cannot resist reading. I love his easy, relaxed style of writing, even when the story is going at one hundred miles per hour.

I was especially eager to read this collection because I knew that myself and my good lady wife Jo, feature in a story together. This triggers the usual disclaimer that including me on the outside or indeed the inside of a book does not garner any favours from me in terms of the review.

So let’s see what this little beauty has to offer!

GUEST POST: Confessions of my Past, Present and Future #48 - Somer Canon

Confessions of my Past, Present and Future

by

Somer Canon

The Past

Most of my childhood books were old, tattered hand-me-downs given to me by my grandma. One of those books was the first book to really ignite the horror fiend within me. It wasn’t necessarily the story itself that scared me.  Even as a Kindergartner I was a hardened horror fan thanks to never being denied the opportunity to watch some great horror movies on television.

No, with The Night the Scarecrow Walked by Natalie Savage Carlson and Charles Robinson, it was the black, scratchy illustrations within, giving the book a moodiness that wouldn’t have been there otherwise.

When I was learning to read, I was able to dig up some gems in my small school’s library. The checkout cards to the Crestwood House Monster Series books were filled with only my name. The book about shark attacks mesmerized me as well, not only because of the photos of the survivors but also because of this incredible drawing of a shark chewing through an anti-shark net, shredding its gums to bloody ribbons.